Canadian Citizenship

Citizenship is the culmination of an immigration journey and a major highlight for those who made it to the finish line. Did you know that Canada's passport ranked 8th most powerful in the world? As of 2022, Canadian passport holders can visit 185 countries visa-free.

Eligibility

In order to apply for Canadian citizenship, you need to become a permanent resident (PR) first. After living in Canada for at least 3 years (1,095 days to be exact) within the past 5 years, you can submit your citizenship application. Typically, you will also need to have filed your taxes, pass a citizenship and prove your language skills in English or French. Canada allows multiple citizenship but it will depend on your home country's policies if you're able to keep your citizenship and become a dual citizen.

Application Process

As Canada is modernizing its immigration system, applications for adults can now be submitted online. If you want to apply with a minor, you can only apply on paper at the moment. The fees are $ 630 for adults and $100 for minors under the age of 18, for both online and paper applications. Processing times are about 24 months at the moment. There are 3 major steps to a citizenship application:
  1. Submit your application, and update it as necessary
  2. Citizenship test and interview (if applicable)
  3. Citizenship ceremony

The first step is gathering the required documents for yourself and your family members. Have a look at this checklist to find out what you'll need. Besides your identification, typically your passport, and the documentation that shows you meet the eligibility requirements, you'll have to provide citizenship photos and pay the fees. Once the application is submitted, there's nothing else to do but wait. 

IRCC will check that your application is complete and send you an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) letter. You can check their progress with your application online. You can contact them with any updates, such as changing your address or if you're planning to travel outside of Canada for longer periods. As your application progresses in the system, IRCC will invite you to take a citizenship test, attend an interview date or both, depending on your personal situation. Applicants between 18 and 54 years of age have to pass the citizenship test. It consists of 20 questions about Canada's history, geography, economy, government, laws and symbol. Don't worry, there is a free study guide and if you fail, you can try again!

The final step in the citizenship application process is the ceremony. During the citizenship ceremony, you will take the Oath, sign the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form and sing "O Canada", the national anthem. Taking the Oath of Citizenship is mandatory for adults and children aged 14 or older. Once you take the Oath of Citizenship, you’ll be a Canadian citizen, and IRCC will give you your citizenship certificate as proof. Congratulations!

Oath of Citizenship

I swear (or affirm)
That I will be faithful
And bear true allegiance
To His Majesty
King Charles the Third
King of Canada
His Heirs and Successors
And that I will faithfully observe
The laws of Canada
Including the Constitution
Which recognizes and affirms
The Aboriginal and treaty rights of
First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples
And fulfil my duties
As a Canadian citizen.

National anthem: O Canada (bilingual, English first version)

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us command.
Car ton bras sait porter l’épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Passport

As a Canadian citizen, you are allowed to vote in elections, run for political office, and receive a Canadian passport. A valid Canadian passport proves that you have the right to enter Canada. A citizenship certificate is not a travel document, and you must use a Canadian passport to enter Canada - even as a dual citizen! The Canadian passport contains images of Canadian landmark, history, architecture and important figures. To reveal secret hidden images and experience its true magic, hold it under UV light! It might rank only #8 for most powerful, but it's definitely the coolest passport in the world.

Looking to get Canadian citizenship? Contact us for support!

Popular posts from this blog

What's a CLB?

Image
In most cases, applicants for permanent residence in Canada need to prove their language skills in English or French. To do so, they must take an approved language test. There are five language tests accepted for immigration to Canada; three for English and two for French: •   Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program ( CELPIP) •   International English Language Testing System ( IELTS) •   Pearson Test of English ( PTE)  •   Test de connaissance du français ( TCF) •   Test d’évaluation de français ( TEF) IRCC will use the test results as proof of an applicant's language skills. In order to be valid, test results must be less than two years old at the time of application for permanent residence. There are provisions if a candidate cannot complete one or more sections of the language test because of a disability. The Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) (or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) for French) was created to assess language skills of permanent residen
Read more

International Experience Canada (IEC)

Image
International Experience Canada (IEC) is a reciprocal program that gives youth the opportunity to travel and work in Canada for up to 3 years. Young adults aged 18 to 35 can participate in the program under the following categories: Working Holiday ( open work permit ) Young Professional (employer-specific "closed" work permit for jobs contributing to professional development) International co-op (employer-specific work permit for student internship terms) Who Can Apply Citizens of partner countries may be able to apply to one or more of these three categories. Citizens of other countries may still be able to apply to the IEC program through a Recognized Organization  (RO).  The number of participations and length of work permit depend on the applicant's country of citizenship. While some countries allow repeat participations in the same or a different category, others are limited to one participation. The length of work permit under the IEC program can vary from 6 mont
Read more

How Express Entry works

Image
The Express Entry online system is used to manage applications for Permanent Residence under three separate programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program Federal Skilled Trades Program Canadian Experience Class Each program has its own eligibility criteria. Candidates need to meet all requirements for at least one program to apply under Express Entry, and can't mix and match criteria from different programs. The following table shows the eligbility requirements for each of the three programs: Eligibility Criteria Canadian Experience Class Federal Skilled Worker Program Federal Skilled Trades Program Language skills English or French skills CLB 7 for TEER 0 or TEER 1 occupations CLB 5 for TEER 2 or TEER 3 occupations English or French skills CLB 7 English or French skills CLB 5 for speaking and listening CLB 4 for reading and writing Type/Level of work experience Canadian work experience in an occupation
Read more